Trouble shoot Hitachi DVD Camcorder

How can I use iMovie with my camcorder?

I would try recording a test disc, finalizing it, and then see if it can be read by iMovie. Your manual is pretty specific regarding specific Windows Operating Systems/Platform requirements and applications (and drivers if using USB) that can recognize/read files. I would check to see if finalizing relaxes those restrictions with respect to iMovie '08 and use of FireWire protocol.

Have you heard of this program or know anything about it?

Not really, but a bit of quick searching on the internets seems to indicate it is an application ($40) that will allow you copy files to your Mac and perform "first cuts" to your material before passing it on to another Pixela application ($60) which edits the video in any MPEG-2 VR format supposedly at the frame level. Unfortunately, I don't see any indication that the first application at $40 will export your imported/captured files to any format compatible with iMovie '08. On the other hand, I do know that MPEG Streamclip (free) together with the Apple QT MPEG-2 Playback component ($20) will convert such files to an iMovie '08 compatible compression format if you can drag them to your desktop via Firewire or USB at the "Finder" level. (I.e., does the DVD camcorder appear as an external device and can you "see" your files with the Finder when the camcorder is plugged in?)

New to Mac as well. I'm trying to get Hitachi 580A to download into iMovie.
Did you find a solution?

Hi everybody,
I have the same problem of you with Hitachi Camcorder, following you will find some information/solution I found that probably can help everybody.
Once you connect the DVD cam to the MAC you have to find the .VRO file into the DVD_RTAV folder. That's the mpeg2 file containing the recording, now the problem is to import it on iMovie, the solution I found is to import in DV or MP4 with MPEGStreamclip plus the Quick Time component that you can buy from apple store at 20$. I'm still not quite happy about the quality and I'm trying different ways or different set-up of MPEGStreamclip to find out the best one.
I read somewhere you can use also Mpeg2Works4 or export to QT or something like that to export directly from hitachi cam to a format recognized by iMovie but I haven't tried yet.
If you find different solution pls let me know.

Sorry for my englis I'm from Italy and it is quite a long time I don't talk or write to someone in English.

I was missing something important :

1) if you use DVD-R you must finalize the disc before import, in that case when you import the recording to DV or mp4 you will lose quality

2) if you use DVD-RAM you must protect them before copying to Hdd otherwise the risk is to import part of the recording because of the UDF standard of the DVD-RAM.

I'm going crazy with this camera I'll suggest you, and myself, to buy a MiniDV camera with firewire next time, also the hdd camera I doubt they work fine.

Or use a PC Windows based. ( I prefer to trow away the camera )

Hi

I posted a question regarding the same issue today, but with Hitachi DZ-HS300E. I have installed the software Pixe VRF Browse that was on the CD i the box, and it *****!!!

I also like to use iMovie, because it's a nice pice of software.

Due to all the problems using my Hitachi DVDCAM with iMovie I decided that I dont want to use my Hitachi camera any more. Why Hitachi dont want to work with the best software on the market I can not understand.

So, if anybody finds a workaround this issue pleas tell us about it a.s.a.p.

Thanks

Regards, Kent

This is my fear. A whole bunch of trying this and that. I am sorry I bought Hitachi because they should be offering a simple solution. Don't they know Mac is the way to go?
Anyone want a good used Hitachi? Kidding.

Just copy the .vro file to your desktop or desired folder. Once it has finished tranferring change the file extension from .vro to .mpg (mpeg file). That should do the trick. You will be able to import to iMovie. Good Luck

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic232309.html

you can also use handbrake to convert the file for use.
http://handbrake.fr/

I am having the same problems with my Hitachi. I don't want to buy any extra software or mess around. I too will try and sell my Hitachi camcorder and will then begin the search for a good affordable camera that will be compatable with iMovie.